Air freshening device

ABSTRACT

The invention relates to improvements in or relating to containers and in particular to an air freshening or purifying device utilising a gel fragrance or other composition suitable for use in a vehicle. The air freshening or purifying device comprising a gel holder having at least one recess for receiving a gel, wherein a plurality of prongs project from a base of the recess, said prongs being inclined in at least two different directions to an axis perpendicular to the recess base.

[0001] The invention relates to improvements in or relating tocontainers and in particular to a device for an air freshener orpurifier utilising a gel fragrance or other composition suitable for usein a vehicle.

[0002] Many devices are known which can be used in cars or othervehicles as air fresheners. In this specification the term “fragrance”may be a simple perfume, that also includes a deodorant which itself mayor may not be perfumed. One form consists of a plastic container adheredto the dashboard or another part of the vehicle containing a fragrancein solid form. The fragrance evaporates over a period of time and isreleased through slots in the container. Disadvantageously such devicesare usually positioned in a place where they could be knocked off unlessthe adhesive is particularly strong. If the adhesive is too strong, thenthis marks the dashboard when the air freshener is replaced.

[0003] Another common form of air freshening device comprises asubstrate of card, wood or the like which is impregnated with afragrance, which is hung from the rear view mirror. Some of thesedevices do not last very long and others are very unattractive, inappearance.

[0004] Recently there has been a marked increase in the use offragrances in gel form. The devices for dispensing such fragrances arecommonly provided by plastic packaging elements in which the diffusionof the fragrance takes place through the semi-permeable walls of apolymeric material.

[0005] U.S. Pat. No. 5,780,527 describes such angel which can be used asa fragrancing component in such an air freshening device. This gel isparticularly advantageous in that it can be used in attractively shapedopen containers without the need for sealing.

[0006] A gel fragrance is used in one air freshening device, which iscurrently on the market for home use, which comprises an attractiveglass disk having grooves in one surface thereof containing the gel. Asthe fragrance is dissipated over time, the gel shrinks and is no longersupported by all of the groove walls. To prevent the shrinking gel fromfalling out of the container, a number of small grooves are used whichare fairly narrow. However, in a smaller version of the device a seriesof small grooves may not be possible and other means must be found toensure that the gel does not leak out of the device.

[0007] It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide anair freshening or purifying device utilising a gel fragrance or othergel composition which has a convenient construction suitable for use ina vehicle, which has an attractive appearance and which can provide longlasting air freshening, or other, action in which a larger quantity ofgel may be used than those known in the art.

[0008] According to the invention there is produced a device for an airfreshener or purifier comprising a gel holder having at least one recesswith a base for receiving a gel composition, wherein a plurality ofprongs project from the base of the recess, the prongs each having atleast three, preferably four sides, said sides being inclined to an axissubstantially perpendicular to the recess base except for one side whichis substantially perpendicular to the recess base.

[0009] Preferably the prongs are arranged such that their substantiallyperpendicular sides are located further away from the centre of therecess than the inclined sides.

[0010] Preferably the angle of inclination of the inclined sides is inthe range of 2 to 4° to the perpendicular axis.

[0011] The angle of inclination of the inclined sides is preferably inthe range of 2 to 4° to the perpendicular axis.

[0012] The present invention also provides an air freshening orpurifying device comprising a gel holder having at least one recess forreceiving a gel composition, wherein a plurality of prongs project fromthe base of the recess, at least a majority of said prongs beinginclined relative to an axis perpendicular to the recess base.

[0013] Advantageously the gel is held in place simply by the prongs.When it shrinks due to fragrance being lost (it may be up to 80%fragrance), it retains its shape.

[0014] Preferably the prongs are inclined in at least two and morepreferably four different directions.

[0015] A majority of the prongs may be provided in a plurality of rows.

[0016] A majority of the prongs may be provided in a plurality ofgroups.

[0017] Preferably a majority of the prongs are arranged in rows, and theangle of inclination of the prongs in at least one row being towards theeast, in at least another row to the west, in at least another row tothe north and in at least another row to the south.

[0018] Preferably a majority of the prongs are arranged in theconfiguration of a cross having four arms with groups of prongsproviding said arms, the angle of inclination of each group beingdifferent, namely towards the east, west, north and south respectively.

[0019] A majority of the prongs are preferably provided in a pluralityof concentric circular rows and/or arcs.

[0020] The air freshening device may further comprise hanging means forsuspending the device.

[0021] The hanging means are preferably removably or, permanentlyattached, for example, to the gel holder.

[0022] Preferably the gel holder is provided with a plurality of gelreceiving recesses.

[0023] Preferably the gel holder is of a transparent material.

[0024] The gel holder is preferably of a plastics material.

[0025] The number of prongs preferably lies in the range of 10 to 100.

[0026] The length of the prongs preferably lies in the range of 1 mm to10 mm.

[0027] The prongs are either straight, tapered or hooked.

[0028] Preferably the angle of inclination of the prongs lies in therange of 4° to 50°, and more preferably the angle of inclination is 8°.

[0029] The device preferably incorporates a gel composition, which maybe a fragrance or air purifying composition or an insecticide.

[0030] The invention also provides a method of manufacturing such adevice comprising the steps of forming the gel holder, filling therecess with the gel composition and allowing it to set.

[0031] The prongs of the gel holder are preferably formed at an inclinedangle or alternatively they are formed substantially perpendicular tothe recess base and then deformed to an inclined angle.

[0032] A preferred embodiment of the present invention will now bedescribed, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanyingdrawings, in which:—

[0033]FIG. 1 is a front elevation of an air freshening device accordingto the present invention;

[0034]FIG. 2 is a cross sectional side elevation shown on the line II-IIof the gel holder of the air freshening device of FIG. 1;

[0035]FIG. 3 is an enlarged front elevation of the socket for the ballof the hanging means;

[0036]FIG. 4 is an enlarged cross-sectional side elevation of the socketof FIG. 3; and

[0037]FIG. 5 is an enlarged cross-sectional side elevation of one of theprongs of FIG. 2;

[0038] FIGS. 6 to 9 are respectively pictorial views, plan elevationsside and end elevations of an alternative configuration of prongs; and

[0039]FIG. 10 is front elevation of the gel holder having an alternativeconfiguration of prongs.

[0040] Referring to FIG. 1 there is shown an air freshening device 10which comprises a gel holder 11 and hanging means 12.

[0041] The gel holder 11 illustrated is in the shape of a disk, but canbe of any desired shape. The gel holder 11 has a recess 13 for receivinga gel composition, preferably of the type described in U.S. Pat. No.5,780,527. The recess 13 illustrated in FIG. 1 is a tear drop, which isan attractive shape, but again this can be of any desired shape. Whenfilled with the gel, which is preferably strongly coloured, the shape ofthe recess 13 is highlighted.

[0042] Projecting from the base 14 of the recess 13 is a plurality ofsmall prongs 15 (see FIGS. 2 and 5). These prongs 15 can be spiked,hooked, tapered or of other similar configurations. The prongs 15 may beperpendicular to the recess base 14 or a majority or all of them mayalternatively be inclined with respect to an axis AA which issubstantially perpendicular to the recess base 14.

[0043] In one embodiment of the invention the prongs may be provided ina plurality of horizontal rows, with the upper rows inclined slightlytowards the hanging means 12 (i.e. in a northerly direction) and thelower rows inclined oppositely towards the bottom of the holder 11 (i.e.towards the south). Thus the prongs 15 are inclined in two differentdirections with respect to axis AA. In the embodiment illustrated, thepattern is more complicated, and one central vertical row is angled tothe north, one central row is inclined to the south and the rows ateither side of the central row are angled to the east and westrespectively.

[0044] In a further embodiment of the invention the rows of prongs 15are provided in the pattern of a cross, with four groups of rows ofprongs providing the arms. Each group of prongs is inclined differently,towards the east, west, north and south respectively, i.e. fourdifferent directions.

[0045] In the previously described embodiments, the prongs are providedin straight rows having an essentially square configuration. In apreferred embodiment, the pattern of distribution is circular ratherthan square as shown in FIG. 10. The circular distribution gives bettergel retention characteristics, because the shrinkage is homotetic to theinitial conformation of the gel.

[0046] The prongs 15 are preferably at least four sided, more preferablyrectangular in cross-section, and taper from the base of the prong 15 tothe tip. Most preferred is the configuration of the prongs 15 shown inFIGS. 6 to 9 in which the prongs are rectangular in cross-section buthave one perpendicular side 25 and the remaining three sides 26, 27, 28are inclined. The angle of inclination is preferably in the order of 2°to 4° and most preferably 3° to the perpendicular. When thisconfiguration of prongs 15 is used, the prongs 15 have theirperpendicular sides 25 substantially directed away from the centre ofthe recess 13, i.e. at the furthest point from the centre of the recessthan the other sides, and thus oppose the tension of the gel.

[0047] The number of prongs 15 preferably lies in the range of 10 to 100and the length of the prongs 15 is preferably in the range of 1 mm to 10mm and most preferably 4 mm.

[0048] A preferred size of the tip of the prongs 15 is in the range of0.4 mm to 1 mm and more preferably 0.6 mm². The prongs 15 preferablyhave a radius 29 where they meet the recess base 14 and this radius maytypically be in the region of 0.3 mm to 0.8 mm and preferably 0.5 mm.

[0049] The angle of inclination α of the inclined prongs 15 shown inFIG. 5 preferably lies in the range of 4° to 50° and is most preferably8°.

[0050] The actual number of prongs 15, their positioning, their length,their angle of inclination α and the number of different angles ofinclination used will at least partly depend on the size and shape ofthe recess 13. The angle of inclination α is also partly dependent onthe process used to form the gel holder 11.

[0051] The hanging means 12 can be of any suitable shape which wouldallow the air freshening device 10 to be removably attached to a fixedelement in the car, e.g. the stem of the rear view mirror. Thus thehanging means 12 has a hook 16 at one end and a stem 17. The stem 17 iseither permanently or removably attached to the gel holder 11 by anappropriate mechanism. A screw thread or even a fixed joint may be used.The embodiment illustrated includes a ball 18 and socket 19 arrangement(see FIGS. 3 and 4 for detail of the socket). This arrangement ispreferred as it allows one to orientate the recess 13 to follow the axisII-II, and it is simple to connect the stem 17 to the gel holder 11.This is not the case with other mechanisms such as screw threads.

[0052] The device 10 is manufactured by forming the gel holder 11 by asuitable method such as injection moulding. Producing the holders 11with inclined prongs 15 can be difficult using moulding methods. Ifangled pins are required, they could alternatively initially be mouldedprojecting perpendicularly to the recess base 14, and then subjected toheat, preferably in the form of a hot air flow. It has been found that apair of inclined hot-air guns can be used to effect this quitesatisfactorily. The airflow causes the prongs 15 to soften slightly anddeform to an inclined angle. With adjustable airflow, adjustable power,adjustable height and adjustable speed of the conveyer passing theholders 11 under the air flow, the required angle of inclination can beobtained.

[0053] It has been found that passing the holders 11 on a conveyor undera pair of hot air guns at a speed of approximately 10 m/min with the airat a temperature of 410° C. works satisfactorily. The diameter of theair guns used for holders having a diameter of 54 mm in this workingembodiment has been 50 mm. The air guns have been positioned adjacenteach other in the machine direction, slightly offset with respect toeach other and the holders 11 in the transverse direction to ensure thatthe entire surface of the holders 11 is covered by the air flow. Theguns do not need to be angled with respect to the holders 11 and so theair flow is perpendicular to the holders 11. The holders 11 are thencooled in ambient temperature.

[0054] Once the holders 11 are formed, the recess 13 are filled with thegel in liquid form, and the gel allowed to set. The device 10 can thenbe packaged with or without the hanging means 12.

[0055] Although the air freshening device 10 is designed for use in avehicle, it may obviously be used in any location where a suspendeddevice is preferred. Alternatively, especially if used in a stationaryenvironment, it can simply be placed (without the hanging means 12 ifpreferred) on a surface which is flat.

[0056] The device 10 may also be used for purifying the air by fillingthe holder 11 with a gel insecticide or other suitable composition.

1. A device for an air freshener or purifier comprising a gel holderhaving at least one recess with a base for receiving a gel composition,wherein a plurality of prongs project from the base of the recess, theprongs each having at least three, preferably four sides, said sidesbeing inclined to an axis substantially perpendicular to the recess baseexcept for one side which is substantially perpendicular to the recessbase.
 2. A device as claimed in claim 1 in which the prongs are arrangedso that the substantially perpendicular sides are located further awayfrom the centre of the recess than the inclined sides.
 3. A device asclaimed in claim 1 and claim 2 in which the angle of inclination of theinclined sides is in the range of 2 to 4° to the perpendicular axis. 4.A device as claimed in claim 3 in which the angle of inclination of theinclined sides is substantially 3° to the perpendicular axis.
 5. Adevice for an air freshener or purifier comprising a gel holder havingat least one recess with a base for receiving angel composition, whereina plurality of prongs project from the base of the recess, with at leasta majority of said prongs being inclined relative to an axissubstantially perpendicular to the recess base.
 6. A device as claimedin claim 5 in which the prongs are inclined in at least two differentdirections to said perpendicular axis.
 7. A device as claimed in claim 6in which the prongs are inclined in at least four different directionsto said perpendicular axis.
 8. A device as claimed in any one of thepreceding claims in which at least a majority of the prongs are providedin a plurality of straight rows.
 9. A device as claimed in claim 8 inwhich the rows of prongs are provided in a plurality of groups.
 10. Adevice as claimed in any one of claims 5 to 8 in which at least amajority of the prongs are arranged in rows, and the angle ofinclination of the prongs in at least one row being towards the east, inat least another row to the west, in at least another row to the northand in at least another row south.
 11. A device as claimed in any one ofclaims 5 to 8 in which at least a majority of the prongs are arranged inthe configuration of across having four arms with groups of prongsproviding said arms, the angle of inclination of each group beingdifferent, namely towards the east, west, north and south, respectively.12. The device as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 7 in which at leasta majority of the prongs are provided in a plurality of concentriccircular rows and/or arcs.
 13. A device as claimed in any one of thepreceding claims which further comprises hanging means for suspendingthe device.
 14. A device as claimed in claim 13 in which the hangingmeans is removably or permanently attached to the gel holder.
 15. Adevice as claimed in any one of the preceding claims in which the gelholder is provided with a plurality of gel receiving recesses.
 16. Adevice as claimed in any one of the preceding claims in which the gelholder is of a transparent material.
 17. A device as claimed in any oneof the preceding claims in which the gel holder is of a plasticsmaterial.
 18. A device as claimed in any one of the preceding claims inwhich the number of prongs lies in the range of 10 to
 100. 19. A deviceas claimed in any one of the preceding claims in which the length of theprongs lies in the range of 1 mm to 10 mm.
 20. A device as claimed inanyone of claims 5 to 19 in which the prongs are either straight,tapered or hooked.
 21. A device as claimed in any one of claims 5 to 20in which the angle of inclination lies in the range of 4° to 50°.
 22. Adevice as claimed in claim 21 in which the angle of inclination is 8°.23. A device as claimed in any one of the preceding claims incorporatinga gel composition. 24 A device as claimed in claim 23 in which the gelis a fragrance or air purifying composition.
 25. A device as claimed inclaim 23 in which the gel is an insecticide.
 26. A method ofmanufacturing the device of any one of claims 1 to 25 comprising thesteps of forming the gel holder, wherein the prongs of the gel holderare formed substantially perpendicular to the recess base, and thendeforming the prongs to an inclined angle.
 27. A method as claimed inclaim 26 in which the prongs are deformed by subjecting them to a flowof hot air.
 28. A method as claimed in claim 27 in which the flow of hotair is provided by one or more air guns.
 29. A method of manufacturingthe device of any one of claims 1 to 25, comprising the step of formingthe gel holder in which the prongs of the gel holder are formed at aninclined angle.